Yearly Archives: 2012

Here is a papercraft project I did in association with Hobbycraft a Christmas or so ago. I’d like to say I’ve made one this year for the New Front Door but that would be a lie.

Below are the step by step instructions and some templates for the holly and ivy leaves and the flowers that aren’t made using paper punches. If you want further guidance there’s also a video featuring yours truly!

TO MAKE THE FLOWERS
The easiest flowers to make use a large and a medium flower craft punch.
1. Punch a variety of flowers in different papers and sizes.
2. Pinch each petal together using your fingers to make them 3D.
3. Stick a large and a medium flower together using a glue dot, making sure the petals are staggered then to finish stick a button into the centre of each flower, or you can also scrunch up a small piece of paper and fix in the centre.
4. The same effect can be created using different flower shapes by using the templates, then following the same techniques as above to make up the flowers.
5. To make the leaves, cut out leaf shapes using the templates, some with normal scissors and some with pinking shears, score a wavy line along the back of each leaf by either using the blunt side of a craft knife or drawing a line firmly with a biro.Pinch the leaf together along the crease to make it 3D.

TO CREATE THE WREATH
1. Cut a ring of paper approximately 25cm diameter.
2. Starting at the bottom of the ring build up your paper flowers, fixing them in place with a glue gun or glue dots.
3. The wreath looks best when the flowers are placed close together.
4. Smaller flowers and leaves can be used to fill in the spaces, so the whole ring is covered.
5. Fix a loop of ribbon to the top of the wreath to hang.

Christmas is closer than it was last time I posted a Christmassy craft project … Anything that doesn’t move should be being decorated. Food that you don’t think about any other time of the year should be being consumed (Mince Pies, Devils on Horseback, Mulled Wine, Brandy Butter) and bad bad bad songs should be being danced to at Christmas parties.

I have yet to start any of the above (apart from maybe the mulled wine and mice pie consumption but then that started in September.) I have made this forest though, which is a start.

The basic tree shape is easy to make and using different colours and textures of paper you can build up acres of forest very quickly.

Here’s how to do it.

It would make a very stylish table center or above a fireplace (watch the flames!)

This is what I have been working on all summer. The first two books in Quadrille Publishings new Simple Makes craft series. They’re both full of lovely little projects …

Felt Sew Goodhas 30 projects made from my most favourite of materials; felt. From cushion covers and ipad cases to dancing elephant mobiles and forest friends finger puppets I have tried to showcase the wonderful versatility of felt. Lots of projects for beginners and seasoned crafters alike.

Little Sew and Sew has loads of embroidery designs from simple one colour patterns to much more elaborate embroidery and they’ve all got their own sewing project to go with them. You can try your hand at ribbon embroidery on a beautiful wooden handled tote bag, make a birdcage tea cosy complete with multi-coloured love birds or make personalised pillowcases, dolly bags and wall hangings.

Thing is they’re not available till next May so they might not make this years Christmas list.. but you could pre-order if you like?

So it’s almost Christmas. All the glossy magazines have released their December issues full of party frocks and Christmas nibbles and in the case of Marie Claire a lovely feature on how to have a Hand Crafted Christmas featuring a simple project by me. Hurrah.

If you’ve bought the mag and have come here for the star template, then here it is …

If you haven’t bought the mag, then why not?

But seeing as it’s Christmas here are the step by steps to making your own garland.

Hullo!

and welcome. I am an all round creative type relishing in a weird patchwork career of author, maker, illustrator and stylist. This blog is a snapshot of the things I like, things I do and things I see. There's lots on here to make and do so please